In 2015, when my Grands were much younger, I wrote the following letter to each of them to put into their Grand Album:
Dear Grand,
Do you know I pray for you? I pray you will know
and love God. I pray you will be a good and thoughtful
friend who has good and thoughtful people in your
life. I pray you will do your best in school. I pray you
will be healthy and strong. I pray you will have a grateful/
heart.
Love You More,
Bibi
Eight years have passed and I continue to pray for them daily; but, honestly my prayers really focus on the first point – they will know and love God. So far, only one of the five has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I try not to worry about this because I know God is the initiator of those spiritual pursuits. Indeed, the entire Bible is the story of God pursuing us, and ever since the very beginning, God has called to man. A prime example occurs in Genesis in the Garden of Eden when, in direct disobedience to God, Adam and Eve eat the fruit from the Tree of Life. Naked and ashamed, Adam and Eve hid amongst the trees from God, but you cannot hide from God. God called out to man, “Where are you” (Genesis 3:8)? Today God continues to pursue those who do not know Him.
A favorite quote by John Stubman continues to remind me that God is pursuing my Grands. Stubman writes, “The living God pursues us, no matter how often or how fast we run. If you don’t believe me ask Jonah.” Then, even at the last book of the Bible, God is still in pursuit of the unsaved. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and will dine with him, and he with me.” As a grandmother, I take great comfort knowing God won’t give up.
Therefore, my job is first and for most is to “trust in the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding … ” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Secondly, I must faithfully pray the Lord will soften my Grands’ hearts in hopes they will hear Him knocking. I also pray for a Christian friend or mentor to be placed in their lives. Finally, I ask they will someday soon have a personal relationship with their Lord and Savior. Accordingly, I won’t forget the answer to this question: “Why does God pursue us? For the purpose of a redemptive relationship” (Dr. Gary Fenton).
I want this redemptive relationship for my Grands.
Do you have someone in your family God is pursuing?